Sink collection and transfer apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus occupying physical in-sink space which is attached to, is part of or emanating from either a sink flange or sink basin allowing for sink debris solids to be collected and transferred to the sink drain or garbage disposal while allowing sink liquids to be transferred through the apparatus simultaneously is disclosed.

BACKGROUND

Most sinks have a garbage disposal installed under the sink. They also have, in some capacity, a strainer, stopper or other like device to prevent non-food items and food debris solids from going into the garbage disposal or drain. These sink apparatuses do not assist or encourage food debris to enter the garbage disposal or drain; instead they clog the sink drain hole, thus encouraging sink debris laden liquids to pool and ultimately cover the dishes lying on the bottom of the sink. The user must manually clear the said debris so that the wash water and sink debris solids can enter the garbage disposal through the sink drain hole, adding both time to complete the task and water resources. Additionally, there is a need to collect debris within the sink space and allow sink liquids to pass into the garbage disposal simultaneously. In light of the problems mentioned above a solution is to be developed.

SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS

A method for collecting and separating sink debris from other in-sink contents (dishes for example) while allowing liquids to drain simultaneously into the sink drain hole. This task is completed by installing an invented sink debris collection and transfer apparatus into the sink drain flange or upon the sink floor whereby utilizing “in-sink” physical space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the sink debris collection and transfer apparatus.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the sink debris collection and transfer apparatus.

FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom view of an exemplary embodiment of the sink debris collection and transfer apparatus.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side section view of an exemplary embodiment the sink debris collection and transfer apparatus.

FIG. 5 illustrates the sink debris collection and transfer apparatus in an environment.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate the “in-sink” physical space that the sink collection and transfer apparatus would reside therein.

FIG. 8 illustrates the sink debris collection and transfer apparatus angle of inner wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Embodiments described and claimed herein address the foregoing problem by providing a sink debris collection and transfer apparatus and method of use. The sink debris collection and transfer apparatus may be made of a solid, flexible or semi-flexible material or combination of different materials to achieve the same fit and/or function. The word “apparatus” as it relates to this invention is defined minimally as an apparatus that collects or transfers sink debris with said in-sink space orifice or debris feed orifice located within the three dimensional physical space when installed inside, attached to or emanating from a flange or like connector to a sink drain or garbage disposal flange in a useful position within the sink. The term “in-sink” is used to denote the orifice that, in a three dimensional environment, is the orifice that is residing in that area in its useful position. The term “sink floor” is used to denote the orifice that resides close to the flange environment in its useful position and may create a connection with the sink flange or sink floor. The apparatus orifice geometric shape is circular in its preferred embodiment but may be comprised of other geometric shapes while staying within the scope of fit and/or function.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the sink debris collection and transfer apparatus invention 200. The apparatus 200 comprises an in-sink space orifice 45 that in vertical arrangement is the top orifice. Both the in-sink space orifice 45 and the sink floor orifice 21 are arranged such that both orifice centers are vertically centered over each other. The orifices being centered over each other is held in place by an inner wall 78 that complete encompasses the in-sink space orifice 45 and attaches to a sink floor orifice 21 that in vertical arrangement is the bottom orifice. To give this structure stability, a need arises to increase thickness to the inner wall 78. Thickness may be created by introducing an outer wall 36 parallel to the inner wall 78. These two walls may be constructed either singular or combined, in other words, fused to create a singular thickness wall. Another embodiment of this apparatus 200 is the weep holes 95. The weep holes allows for drain liquids to pass through the apparatus 200 and into the sink drain hole 53. The weep holes 95 may be of any shape(s) or material(s) or number(s) or repeating pattern or mesh design that encompasses the apparatus to achieve the same fit and/or function.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 illustrate a top and bottom view respectively of an exemplary embodiment of the sink debris collection and transfer apparatus 200. This perspective shows the plurality of weep holes 95 spaced evenly around the apparatus 200. The number of weep holes 95 may be singular or in a plurality count. The weep holes 95 may or may not be evenly spaced. Weep holes 95 may take on various sizes, spacing, geometry or be mesh design. These illustrations also show the inner wall 78 and the outer wall 36.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross section view of an exemplary embodiment of the sink debris collection and transfer apparatus 200. As denoted by the hash marks, the inner wall 78 and outer wall 36 are fused to create a singular wall. It is possible to view the angle of the inner wall 78 as the center of both the in-sink space orifice 45 and sink floor orifice 21 are aligned. This angled inner wall 78 is instrumental to the function of the apparatus 200 and is shown in detail in FIG. 8 . The angled inner wall 78 allows a volume of sink debris into said apparatus 200 and focuses said debris under gravitational force to direct the debris downward and inward through the drain sink hole 53. The weep holes 95 are also located proximal toward the sink floor orifice 21.

FIG. 5 illustrates the sink debris collection and transfer apparatus 200 in an environment. This environment is the “in-sink” area 90. The illustration also shows the apparatus 200 in the position of use. The position of use is a physical union made between said apparatus outer wall 36 and a sink flange 58. The physical union may be comprised of a sealing connection, either water or non-water tight. The apparatus 200 has weep holes 95 that are located in a vertical arrangement proximal to the sink floor orifice 21. The weep holes 95 are aligned in a manner that intersects along the sink floor 74 allowing water to drain from the sink floor 74 through the weep holes 95 and into the sink drain or garbage disposal. The sink drain hole 53 is shown with a typical drain flange 58 that the apparatus 200 would make the physical connection thereto.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate the “in-sink” physical space 90 that the sink collection and transfer apparatus would reside therein. The apparatus 200 physical capacity to contain in-sink debris is predominately located in the “in-sink” physical space 90 in all planes of physical space, x, y and z denoting width, height and length, respectively. The distal portion of said apparatus 200 in a vertical arrangement physically resides within, around or upon the attachment to the sink drain hole 53 and compromises of a physical connection or union to a typical flange 58 or sink floor 74. This attachment to the sink drain hole 53 perimeter may be in the form of a sink flange 58, garbage disposal flange, or any connection to the sink drain hole 53 and is made of metal or any other material. In a vertical arrangement the distal portion of the apparatus outer wall 36 exemplary embodiment would physically union to the vertical wall of a sink flange 58, or the like, that covers the sink drain hole 53. This flange 58 could also be a part of a garbage disposal flange or any other type of flange that covers a sink hole drain 53. There may also be instances where the sink itself doesn't use an additional flange but is incorporated into said sink or said apparatus is part of the flange in which the apparatus 200 performs the same fit and function.

FIG. 8 illustrates the sink debris collection and transfer apparatus angle of inner wall 78. In this illustration the sink debris collection and transfer apparatus 200 is in a non-opaque color and the inner wall 78 is represented as having a non-opaque hashed line denoting the inner wall 78. In a black color hashed line is representative of the X axis and Y axis. The angled black hash line is the angle of the original inner wall 78 that connects both in-sink space orifice 45 and smaller in-sink space orifice 21 as their centers are vertical aligned with each other. Also of note here is that there are two symbols. These symbols are the greek letter theta representing an angle. The said apparatus 200 has an angle theta 1 equal to an angle theta 2. Mathematically, these two opposite angles are equal, denoting that the inner wall 78 takes on an inward angle as measured downward from the top of the inner in-sink space orifice. Theta 1 or theta 2 may or may not be equal to zero degrees from the Y axis for the full or partial length when measured vertically from top to bottom.

The above specifications and examples provide a description of the structure and use of exemplary embodiments of the described articles of manufacture and methods. A person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that various changes or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the claims. 

1. A sink debris collector and transfer apparatus comprising a double walled structure, having an inner and an outer wall, with a frusto-conical shape, wherein the larger diameter of the frusto-conical structure is the top orifice of the apparatus located in the in-sink physical space and the smaller diameter orifice, the sink floor orifice, located at the distal end portion of the apparatus; wherein, the said top orifice having a larger diameter is concentric with the smaller diameter, sink floor orifice; wherein, the said sink floor orifice and the distal portion of the outer wall is physically united with the vertical wall of the sink drain flange that covers the sink drain hole: wherein at least one weep hole located in vertical arrangement in proximity to the sink floor orifice and intersecting it; and wherein, the said inner wall is inwardly angled for full length when measured downward from the top of the said inner in-sink space orifice. 2.-11. (canceled) 